Printer Spooler Eats Entire Memory

IvanV · Sep 2, 2007, 11:24 PM

I'm using Vista Business x64, and I've noticed that Printer Spooler sometimes uses enormous amounts of memory. It wasn't difficult to notice, because the system almost completely stopped responding. Looking in the Task Manager, I found that Spooler used hundreds of megabytes. I tried printing the same document several times, but it would always be the same. Then I rebooted to Windows 2000 and it printed the document just fine, with spooler never using more than 40MB. It was a Power Point Document, a bit over 100 slides, and the only difference was that under Vista I used Open Office, and under 2k MS Office XP.

Has anyone else noticed anything like this? Is the Vista spooler that bad, or is it because of the Open Office (although I never noticed that it used more memory during printing)? Can it be the printer driver?!

The printer is HP D1360, forgot to mention.

WardenWolf · Sep 4, 2007, 06:49 AM

It's OpenOffice. I remember encountering this problem. OpenOffice sends everything to the printer in image format, instead of in text format. These images are raw format, basically uncompressed bitmap files, so it takes 2 megs+ per page (or larger, given that PowerPoint is very high resolution for use on projectors). OpenOffice is a real piece of crap. I've had nothing but ugly surprises with it, and I refuse to use it. You'll notice some Adobe PDF files do the same thing, although not to the same extent.

BlueMak · Sep 4, 2007, 07:32 AM

Wow, I never had any problem with Open Office. Lots of bitterness over there Wolf?

Open Office FTW.

IvanV · Sep 4, 2007, 10:50 AM

That would explain a lot of things! I'll check and post back. Thank you!

PangingJr · Sep 4, 2007, 11:12 AM

it seems you have a doubt there about the Office apps, just put some tests onto it. it will take your time and efforts and if you can give that, then create a full back up of existing Windows system... then remove the existing Office apps, install another one and see?

when there is a doubt, if you can test it, then it's best to just test it.

Sep 2, 2007, 11:24 PM	#1
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,921 Rep Power: 336 System Specs	Printer Spooler Eats Entire Memory I'm using Vista Business x64, and I've noticed that Printer Spooler sometimes uses enormous amounts of memory. It wasn't difficult to notice, because the system almost completely stopped responding. Looking in the Task Manager, I found that Spooler used hundreds of megabytes. I tried printing the same document several times, but it would always be the same. Then I rebooted to Windows 2000 and it printed the document just fine, with spooler never using more than 40MB. It was a Power Point Document, a bit over 100 slides, and the only difference was that under Vista I used Open Office, and under 2k MS Office XP. Has anyone else noticed anything like this? Is the Vista spooler that bad, or is it because of the Open Office (although I never noticed that it used more memory during printing)? Can it be the printer driver?! The printer is HP D1360, forgot to mention. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Sep 4, 2007, 07:32 AM	#3
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,483 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Wow, I never had any problem with Open Office. Lots of bitterness over there Wolf? Open Office FTW. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Sep 4, 2007, 10:50 AM	Thread Starter #4
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,921 Rep Power: 336 System Specs	That would explain a lot of things! I'll check and post back. Thank you! __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Sep 4, 2007, 06:49 AM	#2
WardenWolf DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 43 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	It's OpenOffice. I remember encountering this problem. OpenOffice sends everything to the printer in image format, instead of in text format. These images are raw format, basically uncompressed bitmap files, so it takes 2 megs+ per page (or larger, given that PowerPoint is very high resolution for use on projectors). OpenOffice is a real piece of crap. I've had nothing but ugly surprises with it, and I refuse to use it. You'll notice some Adobe PDF files do the same thing, although not to the same extent.

Sep 4, 2007, 11:12 AM	#5
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	it seems you have a doubt there about the Office apps, just put some tests onto it. it will take your time and efforts and if you can give that, then create a full back up of existing Windows system... then remove the existing Office apps, install another one and see? when there is a doubt, if you can test it, then it's best to just test it.